Does God Still Speak Today? (Part 5)

In this post I am going to cover the last two ways that God speaks to us today.  They are through a "still small voice" and through dreams and visions.

Still Small Voice

The phrase "still small voice" is taken from 1 Kings 19:11-12 where the prophet Elijah was running for his life and was hiding out in a cave on mount Horeb, "the mountain of God," because he feared he would be killed.  In verse 11 the Lord tells Elijah to go out and stand on the mountain "in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."  As Elijah stands in the presence of God, a "great and powerful wind" tore the mountain apart and shattered the rocks, "but the Lord was not in the wind."  After that an earthquake occurred "but the Lord was not in the earthquake."  After the earthquake there came a fire "but the Lord was not in the fire."  After the fire came a "still small voice" or as some translations put it, "a gentle whisper."  It was only then that Elijah heard it and God spoke to him.

Too often we are looking for God to speak in some spectacular and awesome way or event.  When all the while God is wanting us to listen carefully to His gentle whisper or still small voice.  God will say more in a whisper than in the great events.

Dreams and Visions

Take note: not every dream you have is a "dream that God gives you."  Most times you are just dreaming and that's it.  However there are other times that God will prompt your spirit and give you a dream that is significant and He is trying to speak to you through the dream.  Acts 2:17 tells us that "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  There are many instances in scripture of dreams and visions (Matthew 1:20; Matthew 2:12-13; Acts 10:9-22; 2 Corinthians 12:1-9).  God does speak to us in varying ways.  Job 33:14-16 tells us "For God does speak now one way, now another, though man may not perceive it.  In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings." What is important, is for you to be sensitive to God's Holy Spirit to discern if the dream or vision really is from God.  Don't fall into the trap of thinking every thought and dream you have is a direct Word from God.  Sometimes they are just thoughts and dreams.

-- Pastor Temple